﻿F.A.Q's

Reaching Up, Rea﻿ching Out Capital CampaignFrequently Asked Questions

Why are we replacing the steeple? The Steeple is showing serious decay, and there is water leaking into the church that will, over time cause significant damage to, among other things, our pipe organ. A true “restoration” process would be cost prohibitive. After considerable research by the Board of Trustees over the past several months, and considerable discussion with Church Council, it was decided that it is important for FUMER to retain the Steeple as it is an iconic image of the lasting heritage of our church.

What is the Front Façade?The Front Façade is the original Main Street entrance. Although our FUMER family does not see it as we enter the church, it is what our community sees every day as people drive and walk by the church. Church Council and Board of Trustees think that this area should be representative of FUMER.

Why does the Parking Lot cost so much? The Parking Lot needs to be enlarged and totally rebuilt. Simply resurfacing it is no longer a viable option. The areas that were not part of the parking lot before need special attention. A complete underground water drainage system needs to be put in place, along with new lighting and landscaping, to be in compliance with city codes for the project to gain approval from the City of Eaton Rapids Planning Commission and City Council.

Are there other projects linked to this campaign?Other possible projects include a new electronic church sign by Main Street, canopies for the entrances, a Sanctuary sound system update, an updated phone and internet service system, and Parsonage maintenance projects. These additional projects have been prioritized by the Board of Trustees and will be addressed after the Steeple, Front Façade, and Parking Lot, as funds are available.

How can we move forward with Reaching Up, Reaching Out when our Pastor is moving?FUMER is an enduring church with a long history dating back 174 years. The current list of projects is in place not because of the vision of any one person, but is rather the vision of the many people of FUMER. We can take comfort in knowing the pastor of FUMER during the realization of these projects is God’s choosing and within in God’s plans.

As a congregation, we decided many years ago that FUMER would remain a downtown church, serving as an active, visible part of the community of Eaton Rapids. In order to do that, long overdue building improvements and maintenance are now necessary.